El-Rufai’s defection to SDP signals the end of APC, PDP misrule – Calculate
In this interview, a renowned Adamawa politician, Umar Bello Jada also known as Calculate has revealed that the defection of former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai from APC to SDP has finally signed and sealed the end of the two dominant political parties in Nigeria, APC and PDP for good. He noted that come 2027, SDP will bury the two political parties for good.
He added that the defection of El-Rufai from will soon elicite concomitant gale of reactions and shocks that will finally supplant the two dominant political parties and consign them to eternal political oblivion.
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Calculate noted that in contemporary politics, no politician has the network, integrity, track record of service educational pedigree and mental profundity to elicite a national conversation that will end the reign of impunity exemplified by the two parties like El-Rufai. He added that the defection of El-Rufai has triggered a national political tremor and undercurrent that reverberated across the nation and shook the presidency from the roots forcing the government to take impulsive save facing measures.
Excerpts:
One issue that has taken the nation by storm and became the most topical discourse in political circles was the defection of former governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai from the ruling party to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), don’t you think this amounts to a storm in a tea cup considering the fact that SDP is a miniature political party in contrast to APC?
The weight and integrity of a political party is determined by many factors including the kind of personalities in the party, how it is ruled, its manifestos and national acceptability. In the past, we have seen how Buhari’s personality became the rallying point for his Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which he used to give the then ruling party a hot chase garnering about 12 million votes at a go.
If the personality of Buhari alone can make that happen, I believe we are going to witness another tsunami in our political history as a result of the defection of El-Rufai to the SDP because of his charisma, overwhelming network, track record of service and acceptability.
I want to acknowledge that despite his sterling contributions to national development, El-Rufai is misunderstood especially by some of the politically exposed persons because they always find it difficult to stomach his valour and candour. Another issue against him is that many politicians who are afraid of the El-Rufai personality resort to blackmail and other underhand tactics to undermine him. But all those antics can never reduce the aura and commanding authority and respect which are the most underlying attributes of El-Rufai, hence his general acceptability in our political clime.
The defection of El-Rufai has elicited a seismic political undercurrent that has become very palpable and has made the APC led government to adopt superficial and face saving measures including drafting the first son of the president Seyi Tinubu to embark on a spontaneous campaign across northern Nigeria. The national chairman of the APC has also gone on overdrive making all sort of spurious statements against El-Rufai in such a manner that calls for the scrutiny of his mental balance.
And again the APC has lately started mounting huge campaign bill boards to deflect attention from the real issues. All these rash actions are show of fatigue and emotional distress. Forget what anyone will tell you, APC has never faced the kind of existential crisis it is facing now after the defection of El-Rufai. It is more interesting to observe that instead of mounting such bill boards in areas where it has performed woefully like South East, the party is busy placing such billboards in its areas of strength is that not a sign that the party is in a state of paranoia?
These events cannot happen by accident, they can only happen because the ruling party has become seriously threatened. Let me be more blunt here, that single action of El-Rufai has changed the political landscape of Nigeria and I’m telling you in no distant time, you will see the ripple effects of that move as thousands of aggrieved politicians from APC, PDP and other political parties have already indicated their interest to come to SDP in a move that will sweep both APC and PDP into political oblivion.
But one issue that may stall the chances of the new party is the fact that the clamour for political office by El-Rufai and others may constitute a threat to the SDPs chances what is your take on this?
El-Rufai’s major preoccupation is his unwavering determination to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of hunger, insecurity and general misgovernance exemplified by both APC and PDP. He is not after any political office. For now that is the major focus of the former governor and I believe with such a mindset, El-Rufai will work together with patriotic Nigerians to recapture the country from the grip of tyrannical leaders. And I must assure you that the defeat of APC and PDP is going to be total and comprehensive.
One issue that has become recurring about those aggrieved with the APC government is that most of the complaints are centered on non patronage. Are you people determined to rock the system because it failed to favour you?
That is off the mark, l could recall in the build up to the 2023 general elections, it was president Tinubu who went the whole hug to appeal to El-Rufai to work for the victory of the party. Before then El-Rufai has already made up his mind to continue with his private life. It is on record El-Rufai didn’t lobby for any office and he has maintained a calculated silence even in the face of the shabby treatment by the government. But one thing that El-Rufai can never tolerate is misgovernance. All his criticisms were centered around governance issues so you can’t indict him of fighting because he did not get an appointment which he never clamored for in the first place. In the same vein, all of us are fighting the government for the pervasive hunger, insecurity, inflation and all the failures of the government.
But let us answer your question from the political perspective, do you think it is right for all manner of people who did not work for the victory of the party to be given juicy appointments at the expense of those who worked tenaciously to ensure it’s victory? Let me tell you some of the appointees of this government were residing in places like London when they were called to serve at the expense of those who worked hard. Do you think this is right?
You have times without number predicted the fall of both APC and PDP what brought PDP into the mix?
In my interview with you last year, I told you that both APC and PDP will kiss the dust come 2027. At that time I warned PDP to change its ways and conduct itself as an opposition party instead of working surreptitiously to promote the interest of the ruling party. Apparently, that counsel was not needed. In their determination to frustrate Atiku from flying the flag of the party, these goons including the national chairman of the party, governors, senators and other key elected officer holders under the party became the very undertakers of the party for selfish and pecuniary reasons.
The party has now become irredeemable in its self inflicted mishap because even the most undiscerning could boldly read the handwriting of these undertakers. Some of the patriotic members will definitely take a queue from El-Rufai by moving out of the party to join forces with other like minds to float a mega coalition. With all these, it goes without saying that the PDP days are numbered.
It has come to the public glare that some of those senators who signed the purported suspension Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan are members of the PDP. Do you think their involvement in the action was borne by politics other than respect for the senate rules?
Thank you for this question. Before I come to the issue of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan let me start by telling you that PDP has become an arm of the APC and based on parochial and selfish interests, high ranking members of the party including the national chairman, governors, senators and other elected officials have chosen to be doing the bidding of APC so as to have unfettered patronage of the federal government including getting plots of land in Abuja and other perks. In return, they were detailed to destroy the party so that the prospect of having a credible opposition ahead of 2027 will be dimmed. I wish to tell you that the national chairman of PDP is the destroyer-in-chief of the party as he is currently mandated to take actions meant to destroy the party. It is on this premise that those party goons were blindfolded to work against the PDP.
I have made this statement since last year and God in his infinite mercy has shown the world that many of those occupying elective positions in PDP are yes men of the APC. That is the only reason that will warrant PDP members to be part of the crass irresponsibility and abuse of power currently happening in the Senate. No where in the world will a weighty allegation of sexual misconduct against the Senate president will be treated in such a disgusting manner.
What do you think is the fate of Nigeria in regards to the 2027 general elections?
Atiku will champion a mega merger that will result in the defeat of PDP and APC. Nigeria’s democracy will find bearing and the youths will have a voice in the way the country is governed as they will play critical roles in the polity. I hope and pray we will be all alive to witness these spectacular changes and political developments in our lives.
